History of Alcohol Distillation

Distilling alcoholic beverages from fermentation of natural resources has been documented throughout human history. The raw materials vary by region and range from fruits and plants to grains. The Chinese culture has documented the making of rice wine as far back as 800 B.C. East India produced Arrack from a sugarcane and rice mixture. Liquor was first distilled from a mixture of honey and fermented grapes. Liquor produced from grain mashes was first documented in the Middle Ages. Liquor was originally used for medicinal purposes due to the antimicrobial properties of ethanol. However, the high concentration of alcohol in distilled liquor made it very appealing as a social beverage. Demand for these liquors has always given it a high economic value. The first documented government oversight of distilled alcohol occurred in London during the 17th century. Parliament passed legislation that taxed liquor sales and restricted the purchase quantity in an effort to discourage the population’s consumption.

The liquors we are most familiar with today were being distilled thousands of years ago.

About Whaley Products

Whaley Products, Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of industrial cooling systems. Quality equipment, precision engineering, and outstanding service are three areas in which WPI strives for excellence. WPI has grown substantially over its 20-plus year lifespan. This growth can only be credited to the years of hard work gaining the trust of its customers, which include end users, OEMs, suppliers, distributors, contractors, and engineers.